Rep. Erin Brady

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Conference of State Legislatures, an organization founded in 1975 that supports state and territorial legislators and their staff. The resolution recognizes the group's role in advancing state legislative effectiveness, fostering cooperation between states, and providing a unified voice for state legislatures in the federal system. It directs the Vermont Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measure is a commemorative action with no policy changes or budgetary impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors Sergeant at Arms Janet Miller for her service to the Vermont General Assembly. It recognizes her long career, which includes managing security, coordinating events, and overseeing the Legislative Council before she was elected to her current role five times. The resolution also acknowledges her specific contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including helping the legislature transition back to in-person meetings. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this honor to Janet Miller, who has announced her retirement effective March 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that officially recognizes the week of February 26 to March 1 as Public Schools Week in Vermont. It does not create new laws or change policies but instead acknowledges the importance of public schools as community institutions and major employers. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to various education-related organizations, including the Vermont Secretary of Education and state education associations. This measure serves to honor the role of public schools in Vermont society without affecting any operational or funding aspects of the education system.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to develop a comprehensive statewide vision for Vermont's future education system. It would involve the Agency of Education and State Board of Education to address the entire educational framework, including funding and a uniform school calendar. The goal is to ensure high-quality education for all students while promoting sustainable use of public resources. The legislation has been referred to the Committee on Education for further review.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to reorganize Vermont's education system by converting the Agency of Education into a Department of Education that reports directly to the State Board of Education. It would eliminate the Secretary of Education position and create a new Commissioner of Education role to oversee the department and manage the public school system. The legislation also requires the State Board of Education to have membership that reflects the state's geographic diversity and student enrollment patterns. Additionally, the bill establishes a professional development institute within the department to support evidence-based teaching practices and student support services.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution honors Vermont television journalist Stewart Ledbetter for his 40 years of news reporting. The bill formally recognizes his career achievements, including his work as a news director, political campaign moderator, and recipient of multiple broadcast awards. It directs the House Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Ledbetter and WPTZ, the television station where he worked.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change how Vermont towns without their own public schools use education funds by requiring them to designate up to five specific public or approved independent schools as eligible to receive public tuition payments. The legislation establishes new criteria that independent schools must meet to qualify for public funding and allows school districts to close existing schools and pay tuition to designated schools only with voter approval. It also sets spending limits on private school tuition, capping payments for nonprofit independent schools at the average tuition of Vermont union elementary schools. The bill aims to ensure public funds support schools that serve all children while keeping tax dollars within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program, which would require fossil fuel companies that operated in Vermont between 2000 and 2019 to pay for their share of climate change costs. The program targets entities involved in extracting coal, oil, or natural gas, charging them based on how much greenhouse gas their products contributed to global emissions. Money collected from these payments would go into a dedicated fund to finance climate resilience projects like flood protections, upgraded infrastructure, and health programs addressing climate-related health risks. The law defines specific types of infrastructure projects eligible for funding and establishes rules for determining which companies must pay and how much they owe.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a new 11 percent excise tax on the retail sale of firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition in Vermont, which would be paid by sellers at the time of each transaction. The tax applies to both licensed firearm dealers and ammunition vendors, with licensed dealers required to collect the tax during background checks and remit it quarterly to the state. All revenue generated from this tax would be deposited into the Domestic and Sexual Violence Special Fund, which supports grants for domestic and sexual violence prevention services. The legislation excludes transfers exempt from background checks, such as those to law enforcement agencies or immediate family members, and would take effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for the Downtown Transportation and Related Capital Improvement Fund to include village centers and growth centers in addition to existing downtown development districts. It also allows the fund to cover engineering and design costs for transportation projects, which previously were not included. The changes apply to municipalities that meet specific criteria, such as having a designated village center that participated in the Better Connections Program or is located in Chittenden County with a completed community planning process. Under the new provisions, the Vermont Downtown Development Board can award grants, loans, or loan guarantees for capital transportation projects like roads, parking facilities, and utility line relocation, with grants covering up to 80 percent of project costs. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.